Shawshank Redemption : One story keeps the hopes alive

The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont, based on the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. It tells the story of banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murders of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. Over the following two decades, he befriends a fellow prisoner, contraband smuggler Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), and becomes instrumental in a money-laundering operation led by the prison warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton). William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, and James Whitmore appear in supporting roles.

Darabont purchased the film rights to King's story in 1987, but development did not begin until five years later, when he wrote the script over an eight-week period. Two weeks after submitting his script to Castle Rock Entertainment, Darabont secured a $25 million budget to produce The Shawshank Redemption, which started pre-production in January 1993. While the film is set in Maine, principal photography took place from June to August 1993 almost entirely in Mansfield, Ohio, with the Ohio State Reformatory serving as the eponymous penitentiary. The project attracted many stars of the time for the role of Andy, including Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, and Kevin Costner. Thomas Newman provided the film's score.

While The Shawshank Redemption received positive reviews on its release, particularly for its story and the performances of Robbins and Freeman, it was a box-office disappointment, earning only $16 million during its initial theatrical run. Many reasons were cited for its failure at the time, including competition from films such as Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump, to the general unpopularity of prison films, lack of female characters, and even the title, which was considered to be confusing for audiences. It went on to receive multiple award nominations, including seven Academy Award nominations, and a theatrical re-release that, combined with international takings, increased the film's box-office gross to $58.3 million.

Over 320,000 VHS copies were shipped throughout the United States, and on the strength of its award nominations and word of mouth, it became one of the top rented films of 1995. The broadcast rights were acquired following the purchase of Castle Rock by Turner Broadcasting System, and it was shown regularly on the TNT network starting in 1997, further increasing its popularity. It is now considered by many to be one of the greatest films of the 1990s. Decades after its release, the film was still broadcast regularly, and is popular in several countries, with audience members and celebrities citing it as a source of inspiration, and naming the film as a favorite in various surveys. In 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

“Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.”

The Shawshank Redemption is the best movie I have ever seen in my entire life. I love this movie more than Jaws, Back To The Future, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, etc. I adore this film. Fun Fact: When The Shawshank Redemption first came out, it wasn’t a big hit. Not a lot of people saw the movie, but the Internet absolutely loved it and made the IMDB Top 10 and guess what on top? The Shawshank Redemption! This film hasn’t won a single Oscar at the Academy, but it is the highest rated film in the IMDB Top 10. What I love the most about this film is that even the cruelest characters in the film will have moments where they will do something you appreciate. 

Andy
I mostly just wanna talk about Tim Robbins in this film. The first movie I saw Tim Robbins in was Zathura. I thought Robbins gave a good performance in that movie. When I figured out he plays as the main character, I didn’t really expect to feel for him. I saw the movie and I was mind-blown. I cried 6 times during this movie and most of those tears came from Tim Robbin’s performance. Why hasn’t he won Best Actor for this film? He was incredible! The scene where Andy escapes and he puts his arms up and bathed in the rain is probably one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history, imo. Ever since I saw the movie, I could not stop rewatching that scene. It is so beautiful and emotional and it gets me every damn time.

Red
While Tom Robbins should’ve won Best Actor, Morgan Freeman also should’ve won for Best Supporting Actor because he was amazing as well. Morgan Freeman is also a very good narrator. He was the narrator of this film, as well as movies like War of the Worlds. My favorite scene in this entire film has to be the final parole scene. He explains that he doesn’t know what rehabilitation really means. It’s just a made-up word. People like you can wear suits and ties and have a job. All he had to do to be rehabilitated was just tell the truth. 

This movie hits really hard. The Shawshank Redemption really teaches you a lifetime lesson. After this movie, you don't wanna go to prison, not because you'll hate it there (which you definitely will), but because when you get out, you won't know what to do with your life. Being locked in a prison is like staying in your parent's house. Once you go out into the outside world to live on your own, everything around you is gonna be a huge pain in the ass. Getting an apartment, finding a job, keeping up with your payments, etc. 

The Shawshank Redemption = 10/10. A+. Masterpiece.